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Cards' Ludwick named NL Player of July

Cards' Ludwick named NL Player of July

On Tuesday, Cardinals slugger Ryan Ludwick was named the Sharp Presents the National League Player of the Month for July.

It's been quite a summer in St. Louis. Including Ludwick and first baseman Albert Pujols, who won the award in April and June, Cardinals players have now won the award in three of four months this season. Arizona's Justin Upton won the award in May.

As for Ludwick, he hit .340 with five doubles, six home runs and 18 runs scored in 27 games in July. He also posted a .570 slugging percentage and a .396 on-base percentage.

"I'm trying to narrow things down, get a good pitch to hit, and I think it helps that I'm seeing the ball a little better, too," Ludwick said last month.

He also tied Bobby Abreu, the winner of the Sharp Presents the American League Player of the Month Award for July, for the most RBIs in the Major Leagues during the month with 28.

On July 12, Ludwick, 31, hit two two-run home runs to lead the Cardinals to a 4-2 victory against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The feat marked the seventh multi-homer game of Ludwick's career and the second time he has hit multiple home runs in a game this season.

During the four-game series against the Cubs, Ludwick hit .643 with two home runs, nine RBIs, three doubles and three runs scored. Also during the month, Ludwick put together an 11-game hitting streak from July 4-18, matching a career high set in September 2008.

Moreover, Ludwick reached base safely in 24 of 27 games during July and posted 11 multi-hit games and had eight multi-RBI performances in the month. For the season, the outfielder is hitting .267 with 11 doubles, 17 home runs and 66 RBIs.